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5

If that's a 1:1 icon, then I think you should consider a slightly smaller one ;-)
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Jørn E. AngeltveitOct 21 '11 at 9:56

Lol, I didn't know how to resize the icon on stackexchange.
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RandomblueOct 21 '11 at 10:47

With the options given below, I think your original choice is the best. The red triangle doesn't look like a button, but that's not as big a problem as looking like either the "undo" or "redo" button in a pair. Plus, not looking like a button means it's less likely to get hit unless they're looking for it.
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IzkataOct 21 '11 at 18:07

Yes - but it is bad though isn't it? Usually a last resort - that's why it has to be accompanied by suitable labeling and explanation. I often think that reset buttons on the back of devices don't indicate enough (right next to the hole) that it is a bad thing to poke around with. For example, Google comes up with 163,000 results for "accidentally reset"
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Roger AttrillOct 21 '11 at 9:45

9

...followed by a third dialog which says 'Look I don't think you really understand the implications of what you're doing - why don't you sleep on it.' :-)
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Roger AttrillOct 21 '11 at 9:58

2

added as requested - also here. Don't 'copy image via popup menu within Opera though, as you may not get the transparency.
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Roger AttrillOct 21 '11 at 11:31

8

I think many users will confuse it with the well known "power off" icon.
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Bart GijssensOct 21 '11 at 11:57

2

I would confuse it for a one-step "undo" button. The exclamation point would mean there is no record for "redo".
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IzkataOct 21 '11 at 18:05

I think the reverse arrow style reset button is more ubiquitous (therefore meaningful) and one could argue that you are 'undoing' all the things you've done to the device when you set it back to factory default.
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mahalieOct 21 '11 at 17:58

Depending on the size of the icon, might be a good idea to incorporate some sort of wrench (to corner of the icon) to suggest to the user that this is action will do things to the system configuration.

Although if the action is found only on via a configuration path of some sort (e.g. settings menu), the wrench is implied already and not useful.

On the downside, a wrench might also imply the action itself is configurable.

I would say that if you need an icon for this then the '!' is as good as any. There is no visual metaphor for a factory reset so people won't be specifically looking for it (as would be the case for the little 'Printer' icon or 'Save' icons).

If you really need to have an icon for this (and I'm not sure every single option requires an icon) then I'd stick with this one. It shows the importance of that option and should make people think twice before selecting it.

The icon you suggest is certainly not good. It is a very specific icon coming from a traffic sign and it shouts "danger", "warning", "attention". It does not imply "return" or "reset" at all.

I know my LG monitor (which I cannot access right now) has an icon for it, I can't remember how it looks like but I know it is very bad and if it would not have "reset to factory defaults" text next to it, nobody would know what it means.

I'd suggest an icon which shows an indented button - such as the reset buttons you get on physical devices ( the one's you need a biro to press in ). It might be useful to show the biro as part of the graphic.